Bill protecting fire pits advances in Assembly

Jan. 23, 2014

Updated Jan. 24, 2014 7:48 a.m.

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A group of UCI students put wood on their fire pit at Big Corona State Beach in Corona del Mar. The Coastal Commission will be voting on March 6 on whether the city can go ahead and remove the fire pits. EUGENE GARCIA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Larry Bob of Mission Viejo throws some wood on his fire pit at Big Corona State Beach in Corona del Mar. The Coastal Commission will be voting on March 6 on whether the city can go ahead and remove the fire pits. EUGENE GARCIA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A group of UCI students put wood on their fire pit at Big Corona State Beach in Corona del Mar. The Coastal Commission will be voting on March 6 on whether the city can go ahead and remove the fire pits. EUGENE GARCIA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Once there were fire rings

SACRAMENTO – Legislation intended to prevent a ban on beach bonfire pits unanimously cleared a key Assembly committee Thursday, setting up a vote by the full chamber next week.

The bill from Assemblyman Travis Allen, R-Huntington Beach, and Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, D-Fullerton, was drafted in response to a new regional air-quality board rule prohibiting fire rings within 700 feet of houses, which goes into effect March 1.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, which approved the upcoming rule, would be required under the legislation to work with cities and the Coastal Commission before any bonfire pits could be removed.

The measure is the latest step in a fiery battle in Orange County between groups citing public-health concerns as they attempt to remove fire pits and those who say the beach gathering-points are part of an important coastal tradition.

After the regional air-quality authority approved its upcoming rule, the city of Newport Beach moved to remove 15 of 27 fire rings at Corona del Mar State Beach and 18 of 33 rings near Balboa Pier. City officials are proposing to install more gas-fueled rings near sidewalks and parking lots, and they will be considering an ordinance Tuesday on the types of fuel that can be burned in fire pits.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee, which has 17 members, passed Assembly Bill 1102 Thursday after hearing from several Orange County supporters. Huntington Beach City Councilman Joe Carchio said the fire rings are a key part of Southern California beach culture, providing “an affordable setting for everyone to sit under the stars and enjoy our beautiful beaches.”

Several Southern California committee members echoed that tone of nostalgia, recounting memories of beach bonfires and saying they would like to see the tradition continue.

“When you think of California, that’s one of the things you think about,” said Assemblyman Eric Linder, R-Corona.

Allen, one of the bill’s sponsors, told the committee that removing fire rings would reduce tourism in his district, resulting in lost revenue.

“This legislation is intended to protect not only a historic California tradition, but millions in revenue for our cities, our counties and our state,” he said.

Anthony Gonsalves, representing the South Coast Air Quality Management District, spoke against the bill Thursday, saying the agency has been meeting with the Coastal Commission to work out the issue locally.

Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff said in an interview after the vote that city officials are taking steps to comply with the air-quality district’s new rule. The legislation puts the city “in a very strange position,” he said, adding that officials may have to undo their current steps if it is approved.

The bill now heads to the Assembly floor. It is expected to receive a vote next week in order to meet a legislative deadline for bills introduced last year, and if approved, would move to the Senate.

Gov. Jerry Brown has not taken a position on the legislation, according to his spokesman.

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